Pronunciation: /ˈfoʊni/

Definitions of phony

noun a person or thing that is not genuine; a fraud

Example Sentences

A1 I don't trust him, he seems like a phony.

A2 The detective uncovered the phony's true identity.

B1 She was caught selling phony designer handbags.

B2 The phony doctor was arrested for malpractice.

C1 The phony art dealer was exposed by experts.

C2 The phony politician's scandal rocked the nation.

adjective not genuine; fraudulent

Example Sentences

A1 She knew the necklace was phony because it turned her skin green.

A2 He tried to impress his friends with phony stories about his travels.

B1 The company was accused of using phony marketing tactics to sell their products.

B2 The politician's phony promises were quickly exposed by the media.

C1 The artist was criticized for his phony attempt to copy the style of a famous painter.

C2 The detective was able to uncover the phony alibi given by the suspect.

Examples of phony in a Sentence

formal The company was accused of producing phony financial reports to deceive investors.

informal I can't stand that phony smile of hers.

slang Don't trust him, he's a total phony.

figurative The politician's promises turned out to be nothing but phony gestures.

Grammatical Forms of phony

past tense

phoned

plural

phonies

comparative

phonier

superlative

phoniest

present tense

phony

future tense

will be phony

perfect tense

have phoned

continuous tense

is phoning

singular

phony

positive degree

phony

infinitive

to phone

gerund

phoning

participle

phoning

Origin and Evolution of phony

First Known Use: 1675 year
Language of Origin: British English
Story behind the word: The word 'phony' originated from the British slang 'fawney', which referred to a gilded brass ring used in a confidence trick known as the 'fawney rig'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'phony' evolved to describe something or someone fake, fraudulent, or not genuine.